Layla – Unplugged Acoustic Guitar Lesson

Learn how to play the song “Layla” by Eric Clapton with this free guitar lesson by Marty Schwartz.  This lesson will teach you the “unplugged” acoustic version and includes three videos.  One will teach you the chord progression and strumming and the other two will teach you how to play the solo.

This song was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by Derek and the Dominos from the album “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” released in 1970.  The original release wasn’t very successful, but the release in 1972 and the unplugged version released about 20 years later, became very popular. It was ranked quite high on Rolling Stone’s list of  “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” at number 27.  You can read more about this song over at Wikipedia.

Part 1

This first video will teach you the chord progression and strumming pattern.  The chords needed for this song are:  D Minor (Marty plays this a different way from the norm. He plays it in a such a way that it frees up his ring finger to play that popular little lick. Watch the video to learn more), Bb Major, C Major, A Major, C#m, G#7, D Major, E Major, Esus4, E7, F#m and B Major.

This is definitely not a song that beginners will find suitable to play.  It has some challenging chords and chord changes, but definitely an excellent song to take your guitar playing to a different level.

Guitar Solo Part 1

I hope you were able to follow the tricky chord progression from the first part of this tutorial above.  Now onto the infamous unplugged solo.  This is part 1 of  a two part lesson that Marty Schwartz was kind enough to prepare for.